The oppressive taxation and cruel policies of…

The oppressive taxation and cruel policies of the Florentines’ signore (elected lord), Walter of Brienne, have by 1343 engendered three conspiracies to depose him.

Walter, with outside aid from Bologna and Tuscany, rounds up three hundred leading Florentine citizens whom he suspects of subversion and prepares to execute half of them.

The various conspirators unite their efforts to lead a revolt that prevents the executions, besieging the signore in his palace until most of the foreign troops desert him.

Walter finally grants the Florentine bishop authority to enact reforms, but the Florentine rebels, their fury uncontrolled, massacre most of the signore’s supporters.

Walter withdraws from Florence, and a democratic and commercial republic soon replaces his tyranny.